Willard S FEIGE
1911 - Death of Rowland

Inquiry is Made by State Authorities

Jaskoviak's Story of the Wreck

Willard Feige of Dudley Gives His Account

J. Leroy Rowland in all proability was killed by an electric car near Oxford heights Tuesday night, and didn't die as a reult of injuries sustained in an automobile accident...

Mr. Bish and State officer Molt, after a series of investigations say that they have found out that the car in collision with the Leighton automobile is the Buick landulet of Eben Parsons of Dudley, and was driven by Willard Feige, the chauffeur in the Parsons' employ.

According to Mr. Bish, Mr. Feige told him he was on his way back to Webster from Worcester and when near Oxford heights saw Rowland coming along, headed for Worcester, and running all over the road. Feige says he slowed down and pulled to one side of the road in an attempt to get out of the way of the oncoming automobile, but that, when it reached his car, it suddenly swerved into his car, and turned it over on one side.

Rowland after the accident got out of his machine, says Feige, and lighting a lantern worked around on his own car trying to put on a new tire that had become dislocated, and that a man with him waite around for a while then jumped on a car for Worcester leaving Rowland by himself.

About this time, and while Feige and Rowland were having some words in regard to the accident, Mr. Bish says a big motor truck owned by Wallace & Davis of Webster, and containing Mr. Wallace, William Jasoviak and another man came along and, pulling up alongside the overturned laundalet, helped Feige to put it right side up and then asssisted Rowland with his tire.

When these things had been done, the motor truck proceded on its way to Webster, and later Feige started, but not before he says, he saw Rowland take a lantern and proceed to a farmhouse to telephone after staying around the scene fully half an hour. The last that Feige says he knows of Rowland was when he was seen by the men on the motor truck, then on its way to Webster, walking in the road with a lantern, apparently on his way back to the scend of the accident...

...The three physicians say that in their mind there is no doubt but what the man was stuck and killed by an electric car...

...Jaskoviak exonerated Willard Feige, chauffeur for Parsons, from all blame, and is positive that Roland, who met his death afterward, was intoxicated...





Worcester Daily Telegram
Worcester, Massachusetts
November 16, 1911

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